“We are supporting this event because we feel that locally owned businesses are the foundation of the community,” explained the Journal’s general manager Jaime Limoges. “They pay local taxes, donate to local fundraisers and volunteer in the community. At the Muscatine Journal, we feel it is vital to reinvest in the business community.”

Second Saturday is an arts and music street fest to be held by the Muscatine Convention and Visitors Bureau in downtown Muscatine from 5-8 p.m. on the second Saturday of every month from June-October. Second Street will be closed for four blocks between Cedar and Pine Streets for the fest.

The event will feature vendors selling handcrafted items such as handmade jewelry, handmade instruments, paintings, post cards and much more. There are spaces available for food vendors, non-profits and service providers, too. Second Saturday will also include performances by multiple musicians who will play on the sidewalks up and down the street.

A number of downtown businesses will be participating by staying open late and some business will host special events during the street fest as well.

“We are excited to enhance the lives of area residents with fun events in the heart of the city!” Limoges added.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to have the partnership of two such incredible organizations,” said Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Ky Cochran. “They both have a history of being community-minded and have already engaged us about exciting possibilities for the future of Second Saturday. In fact, the presenting level of sponsorship was created because CBI approached us with a desire to be more involved than we had even thought of! We’re very grateful to both them and the Muscatine Journal. We believe that these partnerships, as well as those with our other wonderful sponsors, will make this event truly great for the residents of Muscatine and Muscatine County and for visitors, too.”